Echo Park, Lost Angels

I've been in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles for the past three days, staying with my new friend, Dave - the L.A. Tax Guy.  Echo Park is a hilly, eclectic neighborhood.

On Saturday, Dave got me a ticket to the Conscious Life Expo going on down at the Hilton near LAX airport.  I got to sit in on two lectures, one by the Ki Energy World Healing & Rejuvenation Center and the other by the Quantum Balance Crystal people.  

In the Ki Energy World lecture I learned more about healing negative karmic ties that bind us through family.  I asked about helping those I know and was given the valuable info to work on healing someone's father's line and that we are influenced most strongly from four generations prior.  So if I want to help my Grandfather, it is conceivable that performing Ho'o Pono Pono for him between his father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great great grandfather may be a good ceremony to consider.  

I got chills (good ones) when the Quantum Balance people started talking about Eden Hot Springs.  How the word of this magickal place has spread... even Dave has mentioned sacred Eden!  And I swear the lady from the Quantum crystals looked familiar, but I didn't consider that we'd ever met.  Thinking back, I think we may have seen each other at Eden before. 

Also worth mentioning is a treasured moment that took place while walking through the lobby of the Hilton.  If not for the staff member who stopped to make me put my boots back on (yes, I was wandering barefoot in the Hilton) - the timing would not have set me up for this opportunity.  This moment, this treasure, has brought a sense of  confirmation in my heart about the most important aspect concerning my pilgrimage, which largely remains proprietary information.


Forgive me for being cryptic.  It seems significant to keep to myself for now, least the energy escape through momentum.  Like a falling star - all beauty and brilliance.  Falling stars are meant to have their course in things but we cannot cast them back into the sky for wishing to see their bright tail again.  We can place our silent wish into the memory and keep it dear to us, ever working toward this sacred flame.  This is like a falling star with a wish in it.  Let me not throw it back by confessing it before it reaches it's destination.

Dave and I stayed at the Expo for a few lectures, as a opportunity to join a traditional sweat lodge came along - and it was too good for us to pass up.  So we drove and drove and drove... and we drove some more until we came to a very special lodge.  Everyone there was really wonderful.  The songs were beautiful and many, traditional Native American songs.  I sat between two sisters who were there for their first sweat.  There's a bond that is made with those we pray in the lodge with.  With sisters there is a really special love, I feel.  And as I sat there between these two beautiful women, I thought of my many sisters and sweat sisters, who I love dearly.  What a blessing to think of my beautiful sisters, to feel their magical grace flowing through us.

Yesterday I spent my day mostly on my own.  Went on a bold and daring bus ride to Santa Monica and saw the ocean with a dready man.  Sweet and simple, Anthony perhaps appears as any random homeless person to most people.  To me, a beautiful and innocent pilgrim who lives simply.  He confessed his love of laying in the sand during the day and  the enjoyment he receive from the people he meets around town.  What a wonderful thing to share, stories between two pilgrims on the journey of life.

Today I got to take a yoga class at Still Yoga, down in the Silverlake area. Although they don't have the "first class is free" deal that most places have, they gave me a great deal.  The girl asked how much I could pay.  I offered $5 and she said ok.  I am so grateful for her charitable nature because I really needed a yoga class.  

I was delighted to walk into the back room and find a dancing Siva statue as the centerpiece at the front of the room.  Steffany Vance lead the all levels class.  It was amazing.  I have not really been able to practice much.  God love them, I certainly do - but some of my hosts have not been very open to yoga so I've kept it minimal as to avoid offending others.  Today rejoicing in my spirit happened getting to work through the body and focus on the breath - and to be around others who were also enjoying the same joy of asana work.

Om namah Siva, Om namah Siva, Om namah Sivaya!

After that Dave and I went on an adventure to the hilly, ritzy part of the San Gabriel Valley to pick up home grown eggs and RAW GOATS MILK!!!  Omg... so addictive!  I have never had a taste for cow milk.  Back in the days when I would poison my foods with refined sugar, artificial colors/flavors, and preservatives I was fond of flavored cows milk because it was the only way I could tolerate the taste of it.  Goat's milk needs no tampering for me to enjoy it completely.  It's just the best thing ever.  So good that I'm enjoying it as I type this... and best yet, it's RAW!!!

Our final adventure took us to a bike co-op called the Bicycle Kitchen to work on Dave's bike. We had a great time working side by side, learning how to true spokes in the wheel.  There are three parts involved: the hub, the spokes, and the rim.  When truing, the wheel is placed in a truing stand of sorts.  The wheel is rotated around while a clamp outside of the rim is gently tightened until one side or the other starts to rub.  This is called a "bump".  From there one can use a spoke-tightening tool to work on the side that is rubbing.  By tightening the spokes on the opposite side or loosening the ones on the same side as the bump, one can continuously true the wheel to one's heart content. 

That's Dave in the doorway paying for his re-loved wheels that we were working on truing today.  Loved meeting the friendly man called JawKnee.  He is a very aware and wise person with a calm and friendly exterior.  The atmosphere at Bike Kitchen is mellow and helpful, made even more enjoyable by the music selection - very hill billy-ish.  People who volunteer and visit are equally passionate about bicycling and learning how to care for bicycles.  I am so glad to have such a wonderful learning experience! 

Tonight I'm listening to devotional music on pandora.com, yay!

Coming tomorrow:

pictures of Echo Park, more adventure in L.A., and the long over-due itinerary.